Greetings, blog readers!
Today is the first day of Fall, my favorite season!
(I am not hung up on such technicalities as the fact that the "official" first day of Fall isn't until Sept 21st. Today is September. In my book, that's Fall!) ;)
Take a look at this picture:
What do you feel when you look at it? What emotions does it stir? How about this one:
Or this one (imagine you, here, hot chocolate or red wine in hand):
Or, one of my personal favorites:
Fall. Autumn. The end of Summer.
Cool. Crisp. Cozy. Colorful.
Leaves. Fireplaces. Fleece. Pumpkins. Apples.
Soups. Pumpkin Bars. Apple Butter. Cinnamon. Hot Chocolate.
Butternut Squash. Sweet Potatoes. Gingerbread Cookies. Chili.
Apple Cider. Spiced Tea. Oktoberfest brews. The return of red wine.
Corn Mazes. Pumpkin Patches. Apple Orchards.
Thanksgiving. Harvest. Rakes. Dances of leaves in breezes.
Piles of leaves to bound into!
If you haven't noticed, I love fall.
I love the contrast of going from my least favorite season to my favorite.
I love the relief from hot days and hotter nights. (And not hotter in the good way!)
I love how the cool air seems to disintegrate mosquitoes instantly.
I love that it begins a seasonal journey of joy and celebration,
communities coming together around the many and varied holidays this season holds.
I love decorating my house for fall - pumpkins, leaves, candles.
I love stacking the firewood that will get us through the winter.
I love that the season culminates in Thanksgiving, a time of gratitude.
How appropriate that it is in Fall.
Today I woke up with a large to-do list. Yet I spent the morning curled up with a good book, heavy robe, and hot mug of coffee. I just wanted to love life today, to mark the coming of this season. I wanted to snuggle in with the first day of Fall, The Cozy Season.
It is now mid-afternoon on this first day of Fall, and my to-do list is not getting done. My to-do list is filled with life-draining tasks at the moment: Clean out my inbox. Write the new product marketing collateral. Edit the training manual. Update the forms for the client. All "shackles on," life-draining-just-survivin'-responsible-person-in-society to-do list stuff.
It will not be this way forever. I am well on my way down a road to living the life I am meant to live. But, today, the to-do list does not have much life.
So today I rebel. I want life today, this first day of Fall. And isn't that paradoxical? Fall represents the cycle of life leading to death. Yet I find it so very life-giving. I mean make-me-want-to-burst-out-of-my-skin-I'm-so-stirred kind of life-giving. And today I am choosing life-giving activities: Journaling in Starbucks while I indulge in a Pumpkin Chai Latte and Pumpkin Scone. Reading a book about finding your destiny. Building relationships via social media with incredible people. Joining a group of fellow life coaches for group support and mentoring. Bringing a friend a gift. Sending a friend a gift. Taking my dogs for a walk. Consciously choosing peace.
Not every day can be just this. Some days require action on the to-do list, life-giving or not. But not today. Not on the First Day Of Fall.
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~~~Thoughts~~~
What do you enjoy about fall? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Until next time, may you love your life today.
